Great idea about putting solar panels on the hatch cover. I have a
small solar panel that I use to keep the battery topped off but I
just set it outside when it is sunny and hope for the best. The only
issue I really see is that I typically remove the hatch cover when
raising or lowering the mast on our M17. I wonder how long you would
have to run a generator to put a decent charge into a battery.
Perhaps it might make sense to add a second battery. Our boat is
wired for a second battery but we have never ran into an issue where
the battery went dead in the first place, of course we have not owned
the boat very long either . . .
--Chad
On Oct 22, 2007, at 11:30 AM, Howard Audsley wrote:
Before I'd buy a gas generator for a boat of this size, I'd
consider a solar panel. Less weight, less money and much safer. At
one time many of the universities with engineering programs were
racing solar powered cars. We had one locally. The skin of the car
itself was the solar panel. They bought the individual cells, wired
them together and glued them to the skin. I've never done much
about it, but have always thought the top of the hatch cover could
be used like that. Generally, it's protected from damage and if the
boom is kept out of the way, would get good sun, and would
normally get a lot of sun when underway. Enough to keep a group 24
or 27 battery charged up for the minimal electronics these boats
normally pack. Put a regulator on it and it would pretty much take
care of itself.
Howard
On Oct 22, 2007, at 11:16 AM, Tom Jenkins wrote:
I looked into adding an optional alternator to my 5 hp Honda, but
the output
is so small that it seemed a waste of money. I plan to buy a 1000
watt
Yamaha generator, which I think can be slipped through the forward
(cabin)
opening of the big port locker and carried upright. The comparable
Honda
generator apparently has no fuel cutoff like the Yamaha, so
draining the
carburetor would be more difficult, but the dimensions and specs
are nearly
identical. One of course has to be careful with the exhaust
onboard, but at
a weight of less than 30 lbs, one of these units would be good
insurance
without undue bulk.
Tom Jenkins
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf
Of Jim
Sadler
Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 6:01 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: M_Boats: M-15 charging batteries
Any of you skippers carry a small gas generator on board for charging
batteries?
Are you using outboards that have charging cabilities?
Thanks
Captain James Albert Sadler
skipper sailing vessel Pelican M-15
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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